Tejas Mk2 first flight projected for mid-2027

The maiden flight of the Tejas Mk2 fighter jet prototype is now projected to occur between March and July 2027. This timeline follows previous delays that had originally targeted 2023, 2025, and 2026.

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has established a four-prototype development roadmap. The first prototype is expected to fly in mid-2027, with subsequent prototypes scheduled for rollout in late 2027 or early 2028, 2029, and 2030. The first two aircraft will focus on aerodynamics and systems integration, while weapons trials are slated to begin around mid-2030 with the third prototype. Full production clearance is anticipated by 2031.

Due to this schedule, the Tejas Mk2 prototype is unlikely to be physically present at Aero India 2027 in Bengaluru. Because the aircraft will not yet be flight-ready, and transporting a large prototype by road requires complex dismantling and reassembly, officials expect to display full-scale mock-ups or static models instead of the actual aircraft.